Iceland President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson with his wife Dorrit Moussaieff. The first lady lauded the Nordic nation’s victory over Austria in the 2016 UEFA European Championship. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – The Israeli first lady of Iceland lauded the Nordic nation’s victory over Austria in the 2016 UEFA European Championship on Wednesday, pointing out that the nation’s victory in the soccer competition should serve as a lesson for other countries, including the Jewish state.

Dorrit Moussaieff, who is married to Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson and holds Israeli, Icelandic, and British citizenships, said Iceland’s victory was “not by chance.”

“They are great fighters and we invest a lot in soccer from the age of four,” she said. “You have to understand that Iceland invests a great deal in its children and in creating a group atmosphere. Iceland is unlike Israel when it comes to football. When Iceland’s players work together they win. It’s an important lesson not only for Israel but to many countries. One has to understand that there are only several thousand children in all of Iceland who play football, so the result is truly amazing….I hope Israel will reach this point,and I would be very happy to help.”

She also said that Iceland has “wonderful female soccer players.”

“I really hope that Israel will finally achieve such a status. A big part of the victory depends on the way of thinking and on team spirit but truthfully, there is help from above as well. I advise Israel to start investing in soccer from a very young age. I would be very happy to help Israel learn from Iceland’s experience,” Moussaieff said, Yedioth Ahronoth reported.